Superheater.



A. W. BRUCE.

SUPERHEATER.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.10, 1912. 1,085,1 07. Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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A. W. BRUCE. SUPBRHEATER.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.10, 1912.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

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ALFRED W. BRUCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., .ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

LOCOMOTIVE SUPERI-IEATER COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A. COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

SUPERHEATER...

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 2'7, 1914.

by a novel and useful arrangement of the headers is obtained.

My improvement relates also to a superheater element for the flue tubes provided with a novel type of return bend whereby expansion is simply and effectively cared for. v

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient arrangement of headers to which the individual superheater elements may be readily attached, and which may themselves be readily attached to the sources of saturated and superheated steam.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of joints for the at tachment of the headers as aforesaid which shall be, at the same time, accessible, easily manipulated and protected to a considerable degree from the destructive effects of the high temperatures involved.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of auxiliary headers of identical and interchangeable type, to each of which is attached a plurality of superheater elements belonging to a plurality of flue tubes; each auxiliary header, with its attached superheater elements, thus constitutes an independent unit which, as such, may be readily inserted or removed from the boiler.

A further object of my invention is to provide a superheater, having main steam headers easily removable from the smoke box of the boiler, the joints of the main superheated steam header, where the said header connects to the pipes running to the engine cylinders, being entirely outside of and independent of the smoke box.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a type of superheater element, using straight tubes and a return bend of novel form, whereby any expansion or contraction due to the excessive temperatures is taken up and can exert no injurious strain.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation, taken from the front of the smoke box, of a locomotive boiler embodying a preferred form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view taken from above and inside the smoke box of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 represents a plan view, part section, showing the improved superheater element used in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 represents, in

elevation, a view similar to that shown in F1g. of a modified form of my invention, the right-hand half of the boiler being cut away; and Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the form of superheater element used in the construction of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, a represents the smoke box; 5 the front tube sheet; and c, 0, 0 etc., the flue tubes which are arranged in vertical and horizontal rows; d is the upper header, preferably of uniform cross section,

extending across the boiler, and connected with the supply pipe 6 of usual construction by which dry steam is taken from the boiler proper. The lower header f, also preferably of uniform cross section, extends through the walls of the smoke box (the fit being an easy one) on each side and is provided with tubular terminal flanges 9. These flanges, at the extreme ends of the header, are faced so as to attach to corresponding faces of supply pipes h leading to the engine cylinders. The openings in the smoke box walls around the ends of said lower header are closed by means of flanged sleeves i which fit easily over the flanges g and have their inner ends conformed and fastened to the boiler shell. The outer ends of flanges i are preferably faced so as to be joined to the steam pipe jacket finishing ring.

Both the upper and lower headers are preferably of cas; iron as usual and, owing to their simple form, may be readily produced without the use of intricate coring.

Arranged in front of the flue tubes, and of the upper and lower headers 6 and f, is a plurality of parallel vertical headers j, each v tubes.

divided by a substantially central partition wall into two chambers, j and y", the former of which extends to the top of the header where it is provided with an opening is which registers with a similar opening Z in the front of the upper saturated steam header, while the latter chamber extends to the bottom of the header and is there provided with an opening m which registers with a similar opening a in the lower superheated steam header. Where these openings register with one another, the upper header. and the Vertical header, as also the lower header and the vertical header, are

formed so that the openings pass through ball joints of the usual type. Bolts 0 in ears attached to the vertical headers. and screwing into the upper and lower headers hold the vertical headers rigidly inplace.

Fig. 4 shows the form of superheater element used in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 where each vertical header takes care of two adjacent vertical rows of flue It comprises two legs, 9 and g, which are inserted respectively into the members 0, 0, 0 ,0 etc, of a pair of horizontally adjacent flue tubes belonging to a given pair of vertical rows. Each leg consists of a long straight pipe r and a shorter straight pipe 7" united at the fire box end by an ordinary return bend, all the pipes lying in one plane with the shorter pipes r outside of the longer pipes. The free ends of the two shorter pipes are joined by a semicircular return bend s, and the free ends 25, t of thelonger pipes are joined directly to the two chambers j, j of the vertical header and open through the rear wall thereof. ,As above arranged, each superheater element has four pipe lengths and uses two flue tubes. 'As there is room enough, using the proportions'generally employed, for four superheater pipes to a flue tube, I am thus enabled to place another element immediately beneath the first one and in the same pair of flue tubes so that there are two left hand legs 9 in one flue tube and two right hand legs 9, in the other flue tube. To avoid the straight pipes r in getting from one. pipe 1- to the other I bend the upper and lower return bends 8 of a pair of elements belonging to the same pair of flue tubes respectively up and down as best shown in Fig. 2; Thereturn bend s is preferably flattened as shown, as it is thus made much more flexible than it otherwise would be. The large radius on which this bend is made also adds flexibility to the arrangement.

In this way ample expansion is provided in the operation of the superheater without injurious strain. The return bend .9 may be, as shown in the drawings, a separate piece united to the pipes r by right and left unions or, if preferred, the bend may be integrally one with said pipes r.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. 5, each vertical header j is narrower than the corresponding header of Figs. 1 to 3 'and takes care of but a single row of flue tubes 2'. 6., has joined to superheater elements which are all contained in a single vertical row of flue tubes. The form of superheater element used is shown in Fig. 6 and embodies but a single leg or group of four straight pipes comprising two long pipes r joined respectively at one end to the two chambers j and j at u, u, and at the other end being united by ordinary return bends to shorter pipes 1" which, outside of the flue tube are themselves united by an outwardly sweeping bend s of circular form by means of which ample expansion is provided for. The two shorter pipes r are, in this form, placed immediately above the longer pipes r and the group of four pipes thus arranged constitutes a single leg embodying a complete superheater element.

which is contained in a single flue tube.

t will be seen that by the arrangement above described I secure the following 'advantages:

1. All headers are completely accessible from the smoke box end and readily and quickly removable.

2. Ends of superheated steam header are outside of boiler so that joints uniting said ends to engine cylinder pipes are always accessible without getting inside the boiler.

Joints attaching vertical headers to main headers are protected to a great extent from the action of the fire gases by the body of the main headers in front of which these joints are placed.

4:. Vertical headers are identicalv and each with its attached plurality of superheater elements may be considered as an independent unit easily removed as a whole.. In case of any necessary repairs this unit may be replaced by a similar one or, if preferred, the openings into top and bottom headers may be closed by blank flanges.

5. Vertical headers are always properly supported by reason of the rigid arrangement of top and bottom headers to which said vertical headers are attached; straight superheater elements may thus be used.

6. The arrangement of superheater element with two legs in adjacent flue tubes Y and the outside bend s connecting'the two legs provides very completely for expansion. The principles of my invention may be utilized within the scope thereof without adhering to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, and I I claim:

1. In combination, in a boiler provided f with fiues, independent saturated and superheated steam headers, an integral auxiliaryheader supported between said independent headers and provided separate chain hers having a'common separating wall one of which opens into the saturated steam header and the other into the superheated steam header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in parallel between said chambers and inclosed within said fiues.

2. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, independent saturated and superheated steam headers, a plurality of integral auxiliary headers attached to and between said independent headers and provided with separate chambers having a common separating wall, one of which opens into the saturated steam header and the other into the superheated steam header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in parallel between said chambers and inclosed within said fiues.

3. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, an upper and lower main header extending across the smoke box, a plurality of independent integral vertical headers attached to and between each of said main headers and each provided with separate chambers having a common separating wall, one of which opens into the upper header, and the other into the lower header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in parallel between said chambers and inclosed within said fiues.

4. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, an upper and lower main header extending across the smoke box, a plurality of independent vertical headers attached to and between each of said main headers and each provided with parallel laterally disposed separate chambers one of which opens into the upper header, and the other into the lower header, and superheater elements connected between said chambers and inclosed within said fiues.

5. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, independent upper and lower main headers extending across the smoke box, a plurality of independent vertical headers attached to and between each of said main headers each bein provided with parallel laterally disposecI separate chambers opening respectively into the main headers and having a wall common to both chambers parallel to the tube sheet and superheater elements inclosed within said fiues and having ends opening respectively into the two chambers through said common wall.

6. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, a pair of upper and lower horizontally arranged headers, the lower header lying in 'the smoke box but extending through and outside of the smoke box walls, a plurality of independent and integral vertical headers each attached to and between said upper and lower header and provided with separate chambers having a common separating wall, one of which opens into the upper header and the other into the lower header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in parallel between said chambers and inclosed within said fiues.

7. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, a pair of upper and lower horizontally arranged headers, a plurality of independent and integral vertical headers attached to and between said upper and lower header and provided with separate chamhers having a common separating wall one of which opens into the upper header and the other into the lower header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in parallel between said chambers, each of said elements comprising two legs, which legs are inclosed respectively in two horizontally adjacent fiues.

8. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues, a pair of upper and lower horizontally arranged headers, a plurality of independent and integral vertical headers attached to and between said upper and lower header and provided with separate chambers one of which opens into the upper header and the other into the lower header, and superheater elements connected between said chambers, each of said elements comprising two legs, which legs are inclosed respectively in two horizontally adjacent fiues and the straight parts of all the pipes lying in the same lane.

9. In com ination, in a boiler provided with fiues, a pair of upper and lower horizontally arranged headers, a plurality of independent and integral vertical headers attached to and between said upper and lower header and provided with separate chambers having a common separating wall one of which opens into the upper header and the other into the lower header, and a plurality of superheater elements connected in para lel between said chambers, each of said elements comprising two legs which legs are inclosed respectively in two horizontally adjacent fiues and said elements being arranged in pairs so that the corresponding legs of adjacent pairs are in a single flue.

10. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues arranged in rows, a chamber for saturated steam, a chamber for superheated steam and a superheater element, said element comprising two adjacent substantially straight pipes connected respectively with the two chambers, a pipe outside of each first named pipe and connected to the free end thereof, all of the four pipes being in substantially the same plane, and a bend of large radius uniting the free ends of said outside pipes, each of said first named pipes with its outside pipe constituting a leg and said legs being inclosed by adjacent fiues.

11. In combination, in a boiler provided with fiues arranged in rows, a chamber for saturated steam, a chamber for superheated stem and a superheater element, said element comprising two adjacent substantially straight pipes connected respectively with the two chambers, a pipe outside of each first named pipe and connected to the free end thereof, all of the four pipes being in sub stantially the same plane, and a flattened bend of large radius uniting the free ends of said outside pipes, each of said first named pipes with its outside pipe constituting a to the rear end of each insane? 'first named pipe and lying outside thereof all four pipes being in the same plane and a bend of large radius uniting the free ends of the outside pipes; and a air of header chambers for saturated an superheated steam respectivelly a wall. of each chamber being perpendicu ar to one of the first named straight pipes and said pipe entering said chamber through said wall. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses. v

. ALFRED W. BRUCE. Witnesses:

S. HOFFMANN, 'MLSGHILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing th Commissioner of Emerita;

Washington, D. 6 

